Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-19

lnGtoh crlticiSlng the management Of District gov
eminent affairs, cites apparent discrepancies be-
tween tne accounts OF the District government
ana OF the Treasury Department, as to the water
fund for 1855 and 1886 The receipts reported by
the Engineer Commissioner for 1885, exceed those
reported Tor the same year by the Secretary OF the
treasury oy the amount of 8, 6s. r. and for 1886
the excess is 81 562.17 The expenditures reported
by the Commissioners for 1851, expeed the amount
given by the Secretary Of the Treasury by $24,-
Ssss0 and Tor 1885 the excess Is $19, 500. -
nai hs apparent. S dscrepany IN receipts as ex
tr1ct building is due to the fact that the Commits
oners account includes the receipts up the last
hour OF the aOth OF June, the last day OF the sca
year, but the amount received on this last day
does not reach the Treasury until the next day.
As to the difference in the accounts for eXpendi-
cluded In the secretarys report covers only those
amounts finally allowed by the Treasury Depart
meds. Inc commissioners in theif statement In
ciude everything for which vouchers have been
given AZ the district buildings though in some
cases the accounts may be suspended az
explanation asked for by some oficer, or
the Of some question as to an apprO-
priatlon. As one OF the District Commissioners
SAID 70 STAR reporter 1t is more to be expected
that the accounts at tile District building and at
the treasury will be exactly The same than that q
mans check book and his account at the bank will
agree. His check-book, II he is constantly making
out cnecks, Will always show smaller balance
tlan the 9ank statement, because the check-book
-
may not reach the bank for two weeks or more
after they are drawn.
THE PUMPING AND REPRESENTATION FUND.
Gen. B0ynton calls attention also to the charge
of $50 for the service of draughtsman In the
water department for the month OF January last,
charged to appropriation for pumping expenses
and pipe distribution;" also to charge OF s62 30
for services OF special examiner OF buildings and
to the employment OF clerk paid from the same
1und as well as clerks paid on the laborers roll Of
the water department.. The appropriation for
pumping expenses and pipe distribution is made
IN lumpt to cover material and labor of the service.
IL IS Col. Ludlow says fund appropriated for the
maintenance OF the service. Preceding the para
graph making this appropriation is one making
others in the water office, including one in
not enough for the needs Of the water service and
pay, and paid out OF the appropriation for "pump-
ing service and pipe distribution" which Col Lud-
low says Is the approximation for the maintenance
of the service Before the last appropriations were
made the commissioners asked Congress to make
SPECIFIC appropriations for these inspectors but
them out OF this fund. The need OF draughtS-
man for the water department was urgent, and
one mad been borrowed from another department.
OF the District government. His whole time, how
ever, was required by his own department., and
the commissioners asked Congress to appropriate
Tor draughtsman for the water department, and
Of the inspectors, and pay for such service
out OF the general fund appropriated for the water
servive. Similar action was taken by the Com
missionerS when extra clerical force was needed
in the water department. These matters, Col.
Ludlow said, were fully understood by the COM
mittees or Congress. who regarded this use of the
fund for paying necessary expenses OF maintain-
Ing the water service as legitimate. The annual
report OF the commissioners, he said, would set
greSS the deS1rabity Of having specific appropria-
lions IOr tLeSe purposes.
THE FEE FOR REGISTERING PLUMBERS.
Another charge made against the Commissioners
q 10 nrCnr nf hary Loot
with the Collector of Taxes or s. by plumbers as
registration fee, 1sillega The order said: sUntil
further orders the fees so collected will be held by
the collector as special deposit, subject to the
oruer Oh the engineer commissioners TO defray
vice"
Irregularity is alleged against this order, be-
cause as 1t Is claimed the Engineer cannot law
fully draw any money SO held BY the collector as
special fund, and the collector cannot lawfully
pay the engineers draft against it. Col. Ludlow
stances OF this order. The law passed by the re-
cent Congress requiring the mmissionerS to
make REGULATIONS governing steam engineers re-
Qu1red such engineers after passing examina-
ton, to pay license Zee Of 3d.
The law, however, does not direct to whom the
g shall be paid or what disposition shall be made
OF the fund. At the same time 1t provides for a
board to examine and license engineers, two OF
whom shall be practical engineers but makes no
engineers. The commissioners concluded that
they were Justified in paying the necessary ex-
penses created by the operation OF the
license ices and acted accordingly, the
surplus being turned into the Treasury. When
the commissioners modified the plumbing regula::
lions and made provision for the examination and
registration OF plumbers, the Commissioners de-
Glued that registration lee could be charged in
this case, and so much OF the fund as was needed
be devoted to paying the expenses Incurred in this
service. They took counsel with their attorney,
Mr.. Riddle, TO whom they submitted on the 29Jh
OF April last memorandum as follows:
1.-The commissioners have recently made amend
ment to the plumbing regulations charging the pro-
visions OF Section of the existing regulations
ing 70 the stering of plumbers and the issue Of
certificates OF registration, after due examination
There are certain MINOR expenses connected with tubs
atter. Tor which, ut the present time, apropria-
ton has been made. The Commissioners desire your
consideration OF tue law in the and advice
whether not it IL competent for then regula-
ton to require tine payment of small fee tor regstra-
ton to cover EXPENSE and the residue to be turned
into the Treasury!
ste engil -rs by law required to pay license
fee three dollars ($3), and it considered
similar fee for plumbers registration would be appro
pirate and sufficient, the necessary authority exists
to collect it,"
Mr. Riddle returned the memorandum with the
following Endorsements:
Il think you may incident to the power to
make the regulations, assess the necessary
fees As mentioned within. should try it."